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Information Overload

I am looking for an underquilt but there is so much information out there. My head may exploid. I backpack western NC mostly and I have been out there a few nights in the teens. I want an UQ that is used for backpacking; therefore: small packed and light. I want to stay under $200 bucks. Also, I am rough on gear and I am not sure I am “responsible” enough for down.

Ha. Many vendors here for you - so lucky. Not sure if down is still on the agenda but you can check out - HammockGear, Arrowhead Equipment, Wilderness Logics, Tewa Quilts, Jacks R Better, Warbonnet Equipment to name a few and get you started with some ideas.

But for light and small - down is what you are looking for.

The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering. - St. Augustine

If you spend a couple hundred on a quilt then that may be cause to take good care of it. Ther are plenty of cottage mfgs on here that can get you into the temp range you want. Small and light would be a down quilt. A bigger stuffed size bigger and kinda light would probably be a synthetic quilt. Tarps are available through some of the same mfgs as quilts. You can also look at the for sale section and score the items you are looking for as well.

I like refried beans. That's why I wanna try fried beans, because maybe they're just as good and we're just wasting time. You don't have to fry them again after all.

Down or synthetic ( Arrowhead ) a torso sized UQ like a WB Yeti or one of many other excellent manufacturers, will save you some weight, bulk and money, used with a short length of CCF when needed for your legs/feet. The same pad can serve as your sit pad or might be a part of your packs suspension. This system will get the job done for sure, though many people prefer the full length.

Do you have a sleeping bag that you like and backpack with? Many people have managed to rig up their sleeping bags- Pea Pod style - to completely wrap around their hammocks. This way the sleeping bag serves as both TQ and UQ, though it probably won't be as warm on top as the bag used on the ground. Results vary with the hammock and bag used and probably the size of the user. If you are interested, check out Shug's videos. He has several where he demonstrates using a bag pod style well below zero.

Apparently, signature that I used from 2006 no longer tolerated so now deleted.